GIGGLE FACTORY

HUDSON, WI
VISIT WEBSITE

I asked my husband what he wanted to do on his birthday and he said he wanted to road trip somewhere fun to burn the kid’s energy and then find some good, greasy, cheesy pizza. We found ourselves just east of the Mississippi in Hudson, WI at the Giggle Factory. The weather was grey and dreary, but this indoor play place was quite the opposite. Granted it was a Monday morning, but it was so light, wide open and laid back, plus there were so few other kids there, you could actually walk around without tripping over a dozen ankle-biters at a time. Nate nursed his concert hangover in the giant leather chairs while I bought a coffee and a hummus and veggie platter from the snack bar, then we both settled in to watch our ankle-biters climb, run, slide + repeat…withOUT their parents’ help! They sped around for two hours until they were red in the face. And yes, we ended the day with some awesome Dough Boys Pizza in downtown Hudson, in case anyone was wondering if the birthday boy was deprived of his full wish.

What is it?

The Giggle Factory is an indoor multi-level play place, complete with a toddler area and a reading corner. It just feels different from a lot of the other indoor play places we go, with your typical hard-as-rock tunnels and ew-is-that-a-booger slides. The cleanliness and friendliness of the structure and the staff, the comfortable spaces they make for adults, and the variety of climbing and play options in the enclosure were truly unique to this place. There was a section filled with giant rubber balls, a rainbow bridge to cross, a row of punching bags, a trio of slides, and the best part is the elevated ramp you climb to get up. For once, my two-year old could get to the top unassisted by her lazy mother. I was so, so happy!

Fit for what ages?

Oftentimes I hesitate when pinning ages to these climbing structures because, even though I want to say “fit for your toddler,” there really are areas in which they struggle. Not at the Giggle Factory, folks! I would say the ideal ages for this one range from one to six. Any older might get bored (the play structure really isn’t too terribly huge or complicated). But with the easy-access ramp, the not-too-steep slides, and the separate toddler play area, my two-year old could feel like “one of the big kids.” It was fantastic to see her confidence soar here! And my four-year old ninja really loved rolling on the plastic balls and hanging on the ropes. Even if you don’t have a walker yet, fear not because, MAN is this place clean! So clean. That made me feel good.

How much are we talkin?

Babies under one are free. Two-year olds are $5. A kid older than that is $7 (with all additional children discounted to $6/each). If you live closer to Hudson than we do, consider a pre-paid pass, which saves you money (not a lot, but definitely enough to make it worth it if you’ll use ’em). Yes, they host field trips and offer discounts to groups larger than seven kids. Oh, and adults are free. Aren’t we lucky?

Want some tips?

Oh, I got a bunch of pointers from the super nice lady working that day, and learned a few myself. Here are my favorites:

1) Do not pack a lunch or stop at Caribou right before getting there. They do not allow outside food or beverage inside. I made this mistake and had to chug steamed milk from the entryway. Burn!

2) Every other Friday is Bounce House Friday! There is a large space in the back corner which accommodates a large bounce house quite nicely, so every other Friday they add a little extra fun for the kids for no additional fee. Follow them on Facebook to know which Friday is the correct “every other.”

3) Just like all other play structures in the universe, bring socks. Duh.

4) Everything is soft. I gladly participated in the play that day, and so did my husband (who is eight inches taller than me) and neither of us had bruised knees the next day, which was a very welcomed first. So bring your energy, mom and dad!

5) They have free Wi-Fi (which totally contradicts my #4, but whatever).

6) Yes, there is a place to store your shoes and other belongings. Not a huge space by any means, but enough.

7) Honestly, save your appetite for this place. The coffee bar has a nice selection and there are some really good, healthy food options for super cheap prices.

8) If you get there early enough, snag the big leather chairs at the foot of the trio slide. Comfortable AND you have first row viewing of the play structure so you can see who really hit who first!

9) They offer private rentals for around $100/hour, but you get the entire place to yourself and can bring in up to 50 kids (and their parents) for up to three hours. In the winter these reservations book up months in advance.

10) Staff let me know that the least busy night is Thursday and yes, as one would expect, Saturdays are packed. Summer is less busy due to the nicer weather, but if you need some A/C on those brutal days, stop in and enjoy!  Go EARLY in the day and bring your camera! Lots of smiles to capture at this place.

Hours and Location

2007 O’Neil Road  |   Hudson, WI  54016

Giggle Factory has open play every day of the week with varying closing times. The building is tucked up a hill away from the main Hudson commercialism (Home Depot, Chipotle, etc.) but isn’t too far off the highway – maybe five minutes. You’ll see the big yellow letters from the road.

Mon-Wed 9:00am – 3:00pm
Thurs-Fri  9:00am – 8:00pm
Sat-Sun    8:30am – 1:00pm

Follow Giggle Factory on Facebook to hear about upcoming events, menu promotions and extended hours. Plus, they post pics of the “bounce house of the day” which should get your kids even more jazzed to go on one of those special Fridays!